CN111043355B

CN111043355B - Three-channel ball valve with automatic temperature control function

Info

Publication number: CN111043355B
Application number: CN201911358656.XA
Authority: CN
Inventors: 李华; 沈那伟; 叶浩晨; 吴燕南; 沈懿
Original assignee: Zhejiang University ZJU
Current assignee: Zhejiang University ZJU
Priority date: 2019-12-25
Filing date: 2019-12-25
Publication date: 2020-12-29
Anticipated expiration: 2039-12-25
Also published as: CN111043355A

Abstract

The invention provides a three-channel ball valve with a polymer actuator for designing automatic temperature control, which can realize the control of the temperature/flow of output fluid. The three-channel V-shaped ball valve consists of a polymer actuator, a return spring, a steel wire rope, a two-way valve rod, a grooved wheel, a limiting sliding block, a sliding rail, a three-channel V-shaped ball valve body, a control chamber box body, a box cover and a valve seat connecting piece. The valve body is connected with the cold flow channel, the hot flow channel and the output channel, wherein the output channel is communicated with the control chamber. When the temperature of the fluid in the output channel is too high, the polymer actuator contracts to drive the valve rod to rotate, so that the V-shaped ball shields the heat flow channel to reduce the flow of the heat flow channel and reduce the temperature of the fluid in the mixing channel; when the temperature is too low, the polymer actuator extends to drive the valve rod to rotate, so that the V-shaped ball body shields the cold flow channel, the flow of the cold flow channel is reduced, and the temperature of fluid in the output channel is increased. When only two channels are used, the flow can be controlled according to the temperature. The invention has the advantages of low cost, simple structure, reliability and stability.

Description

Three-channel ball valve with automatic temperature control function

Technical Field

The invention relates to a three-channel ball valve based on automatic temperature control of a polymer actuator, which can control the temperature or flow of output fluid. Can be applied to occasions with certain limitation on the working temperature of the fluid.

Background

With the improvement of the living standard of people and the development of an intelligent structure, various temperature-sensing intelligent valves appear in succession. Compare intelligent solenoid valve based on temperature sensor, the integration that can realize sensing drive arrangement based on intelligent material's valve realizes that equipment is uncharged, and is safer, reliable. The existing intelligent valve is limited to an actuator, so that the cost is high, most of the existing intelligent valves can only realize the opening and closing of the valve according to the temperature of output fluid, and people in actual life hope that the intelligent valve can control the mixing ratio of cold and hot flows and control the temperature of the output fluid within a certain range. In order to solve the problem, a novel temperature control valve is required to be designed, and the mixing ratio of cold flow and hot flow can be controlled according to the temperature of the output fluid of the valve, so that the temperature of the output fluid can be controlled.

Disclosure of Invention

The invention provides a three-channel ball valve with automatic temperature control. For the occasion of cold and hot fluid mixed output, the valve is connected with the cold fluid channel, the hot fluid channel and the output channel, the cold and hot fluid mixing proportion is controlled, and the temperature control of the output fluid is realized. For the occasion of controlling the flow according to the temperature, the hot (cold) flow channel is closed, the cold (hot) flow channel is used as input, and the output flow of the valve is controlled according to the temperature of the mixed fluid.

The purpose of the invention is realized by the following technical scheme:

a three-channel ball valve for automatically controlling temperature based on a polymer actuator comprises a three-channel ball valve body, a fixed rod fixed on the three-channel ball valve body, a V-shaped ball body positioned in the three-channel ball valve body, a valve seat connecting piece used for realizing the sealing connection of a channel and the V-shaped ball body, a two-way valve rod, a communication rod and a control chamber; one end of the V-shaped ball body is movably connected with the fixed rod, and the other end of the V-shaped ball body is fixedly connected with the two-way valve rod; the control room comprises a control room box cover fixedly connected with the communication rod and one end of the two-way valve rod, a grooved wheel fixed at the bottom end of the two-way valve rod, a control room box body, a steel wire rope wound on the grooved wheel, a slide rail fixed on the side wall of the control room box body, a limiting slide block arranged on the slide rail, a polymer actuator positioned right below the communication rod and a reset spring. The reset spring, the steel wire rope, the limiting slide block and the polymer actuator are sequentially connected, and the other ends of the reset spring and the polymer actuator are respectively and fixedly connected with the control room box body. The output channel as the fluid outlet in the three-channel ball valve body is of a tapered structure which gradually becomes smaller, the other end of the communication rod is fixed on the side edge of the output channel, and a Venturi flowmeter structure is formed by matching the other end of the communication rod with the control chamber, so that the fluid in the output channel and the control chamber can be conveniently circulated. The three-channel ball valve body is communicated with the control chamber through the communicating rod and the two-way valve rod, and the polymer actuator can sense and output the temperature of the fluid of the channel in real time.

Further, when the limiting slide block is positioned on the right side of the slide rail, the V-shaped ball reduces the flow of the heat flow channel; when the limiting slide block is positioned on the left side of the slide rail, the V-shaped ball reduces the flow of the cold flow channel. When the temperature is too high, the polymer actuator contracts to drive the limiting slide block to move, and the grooved wheel and the two-way valve rod rotate along with the limiting slide block to enable the V-shaped ball to shield the heat flow channel to reduce the heat flow; when the temperature is too low, the polymer actuator extends, and the V-shaped ball shields the cold flow channel to reduce the cold flow rate. And the limiting slide block moves to the two ends of the slide rail to be respectively and completely closed corresponding to the cold flow channel and the hot flow channel.

Further, the two-way valve rod is respectively connected with the V-shaped ball and the grooved wheel through key grooves.

Further, the polymer actuator is a spiral actuator formed by twisting and coiling polymer fibers.

Further, the polymer fiber includes nylon, polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, carbon nanotube, and the like.

Furthermore, a channel serving as a fluid outlet in the three-channel ball valve body is of a conical structure, the ratio of the large diameter to the small diameter of the conical structure is d, and 1.4< d < 3.

The invention has the beneficial effects that:

the invention takes a polymer actuator as a core part and is used for realizing fluid temperature sensing and valve rod driving, and designs the temperature automatic control three-channel ball valve based on the polymer actuator. The valve can realize two functions of temperature control and flow control according to the installation requirement. When the valve is respectively connected with the cold flow channel and the hot flow channel, the valve can control the opening size of the cold flow or the hot flow channel according to the temperature of the output fluid, so that the mixing proportion of the cold flow and the hot flow is controlled, and the temperature control of the output fluid is realized. When the valve is only connected with the hot (cold) flow channel, the cold (hot) flow channel is closed, the polymerization actuator can sense the temperature of the output fluid, the size of the valve is controlled, and the flow control based on temperature sensing is realized.

Drawings

The foregoing general description and the following detailed description are better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. The drawings illustrate only exemplary embodiments of the invention and are not intended to limit the invention to the precise arrangements, geometries, and implementations shown. Throughout the drawings, the same reference numerals are used to designate the same components or elements in the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a valve;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the structure of the present invention;

fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along line a-a of fig. 2, showing the cooling and heating flow path fully open.

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view B-B of fig. 2 with the hot flow path fully closed and the cold flow path fully open.

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view C-C of fig. 3 with the cold flow path fully closed and the hot flow path fully open.

In the figure: the three-channel ball valve comprises a three-channel ball valve body 1, a bolt 2, a sealing ring 3, a fixing rod 4, a V-shaped ball body 5, a bearing 6, a two-way valve rod 7, a control chamber box cover 8, a grooved wheel 9, a control chamber box body 10, a steel wire rope 11, a sliding rail 12, a limiting sliding block 13, a polymer actuator 14, a communication rod 15, a valve seat connecting piece 16 and a return spring 17.

Detailed Description

The invention provides a three-channel ball valve for automatically controlling temperature based on a polymer actuator, wherein FIG. 1 is an axonometric view of the valve, FIG. 2 is a top view of the valve, a cold flow channel and a hot flow channel are input channels, and mixed fluid flows out of an output channel.

As shown in fig. 1-5, the invention is composed of a three-channel ball valve body 1, a fixed rod 4, a bolt 2, a sealing ring 3, a V-shaped ball 5, a bearing 6, a two-way valve rod 7, a control chamber box cover 8, a grooved pulley 9, a control chamber box body 10, a steel wire rope 11, a slide rail 12, a limiting slide block 13, a polymer actuator 14, a communication rod 15, a valve seat connecting piece 16 and a return spring 17. The control chamber box cover 8 and the control chamber box body 10 are fixed and sealed by bolts and sealing rings to form a control chamber, and the grooved wheel 9, the steel wire rope 11, the sliding rail 12, the limiting sliding block 13, the polymer actuator 14 and the return spring 17 are located in the control chamber. The fixed rod 4 is fixed on the three-channel ball valve body 1 through a bolt 2, and a sealing ring 3 is arranged at the joint to prevent leakage; the V-shaped ball body 5 is positioned in the three-channel ball valve body 1, one end of the V-shaped ball body 5 is movably connected with the fixed rod 4 through a bearing, and the other end of the V-shaped ball body is fixedly connected with the two-way valve rod 7 through a key groove. The valve seat connecting piece 16 is composed of a valve seat, a valve seat sealing ring and a pressing ring, is arranged between the input channel (the cold flow channel and the hot flow channel) and the V-shaped ball body 5, and is used for realizing the sealing connection of the V-shaped ball body 5 and the input channel. The two-way valve rod 7 is movably connected with the three-channel ball valve body 1 through a bearing; the bottom end of a two-way valve rod 7 penetrates into the control chamber, the bottom end of the two-way valve rod is connected with a grooved wheel 9 through a key groove, and the two-way valve rod is fixed and sealed by a bearing 6 and a sealing ring 3 between the two-way valve rod and a control chamber box cover 8. One end of the communication rod 15 is fixed on the side of the fluid outlet channel, and the other end of the communication rod is fixed and sealed with the control chamber box cover 8 by using the bearing 6 and the sealing ring 3. The output channel as the fluid outlet in the valve body 1 is in a tapered shape, and a venturi flow meter structure is formed by matching with the control chamber, so that the fluid in the output channel and the control chamber can be conveniently circulated. The three-channel ball valve body 1 is communicated with the control chamber through a communication rod 15 and a two-way valve rod 7. The polymer actuator 14 is arranged right below the communication rod 15; the steel wire rope 11 is arranged on the grooved pulley 9, two sides of the grooved pulley 9 are respectively connected with the reset spring 17 and the limiting slide block 13 through the steel wire rope 11, the limiting slide block 13 is arranged on the slide rail 12, the other end of the limiting slide block 13 is connected with the polymer actuator 14, and the slide rail 12, the polymer actuator 14 and the reset spring 17 are respectively and fixedly connected with the inner wall of the control chamber box body 10. When the limiting slide block 13 is positioned on the right side of the slide rail, the V-shaped ball 5 reduces the flow of the heat flow channel; when the limiting slide block 13 is positioned on the left side of the slide rail, the V-shaped ball 5 reduces the flow of the cold flow channel. The limiting slide block 13 moves to two ends of the slide rail 12 and is respectively corresponding to the complete closing of the cold flow channel and the hot flow channel.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along line a-a of fig. 2. The output channel is of a conical structure, the fluid pressure at the position of the communicating rod 15 is high, the fluid pressure at the position of the two-way valve rod 7 is low, and convection between the valve body 1 and the control chamber box is achieved. The direction of fluid flow is shown by the arrows, thereby enabling the polymer actuator 14 below the communication rod 15 to sense the temperature of the fluid output by the valve body 1. At the moment, the cold and hot flow channel is completely opened, the limiting slide block 13 is positioned at the right center of the slide rail 12, and the control chamber box body 10 and the valve body 4 are communicated with each other through the two-way valve rod 7 and the communicating rod 15. The channel serving as a fluid outlet in the three-channel ball valve body 1 is of a conical structure, and considering that sufficient pressure difference is needed at the positions of the two-way valve rod 7 and the communication rod 15 to realize control and fluid convection in the valve body, but the fluid pressure of the output channel is not too large, and the ratio d of the large diameter to the small diameter of the conical structure is preferably as follows: 1.4< d < 3.

Fig. 4 is a view B-B of fig. 2, when the hot flow channel is completely closed and the fluid in the output channel is completely provided by the cold flow channel, and when the limiting slider 13 is located at the rightmost end of the slide rail 12 in fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line C-C of fig. 3, when the valve output temperature is low, the polymer actuator 14 is extended, the sheave 9 is driven by the return spring 17 to rotate, and when the position-limiting slider 13 moves to the left end of the slide rail 12, the cold flow passage is completely closed.

The polymer actuator 14 of the present invention is formed by twisting and winding polymer fibers made of well-known materials such as nylon, polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, carbon nanotubes, and the like. Under an external load, the polymer actuator 14 contracts with an increase in temperature and elongates with a decrease in temperature. By utilizing this property, as shown in fig. 3, the return spring 17 is held in tension with the polymer actuator 14 through the sheave 9 and the limit slider 13 to provide the required external load to the polymer actuator 14. When the temperature of the fluid is too high, the polymer actuator 14 contracts to drive the two-way valve rod 7 to rotate through the steel wire rope 11, and the flow of the heat flow channel is reduced. When the temperature of the fluid is too low, the return spring 17 drives the two-way valve rod 7 to rotate through the steel wire rope 11, the polymer actuator 14 is stretched, and the flow of the cold flow channel is reduced. In addition, a groove matched with the sheave 9 can be arranged on the steel wire rope 11, so that the friction force between the steel wire rope 11 and the sheave 9 is increased. In the deformation range of the polymer actuator 14, the rigidity of the return spring 17 is adjusted, so that the limiting slide block 13 is positioned at the center of the slide rail 12 when the polymer actuator 14 is at different temperatures, and the temperature automatic control three-channel ball valve can meet the temperature control requirements of different fluids. In contrast to conventional smart material valves, smart valves based on polymer actuators 14 can achieve control of cryogenic fluids.

The working process of the control valve of the invention is as follows:

1. when the valve performs a temperature control function, fluid flows as shown in fig. 2 through the two-way valve stem 7 and the communication rod 15, enabling the polymer actuator 14 to sense the output temperature of the fluid from the valve body 1. When the output temperature is the rated temperature, the limiting slide block 13 is located at the center of the slide rail 12, when the temperature is higher than the rated temperature, the polymer actuator 14 contracts and drives the two-way valve rod 7 to rotate, so that the V-shaped sphere 5 shields the heat flow channel to reduce the heat flow rate, and when the temperature is higher than the threshold value, the fiber slide block 13 is located at the rightmost end of the slide rail 12, and the heat flow channel is completely closed by the V-shaped sphere 5. When the temperature decreases, the polymer actuator 14 elongates, driving the V-shaped ball 5 to reduce the cold flow channel flow and completely closing the cold flow channel when the temperature reaches a low temperature threshold.

2. When the valve realizes the flow control function, taking the control of the flow of high-temperature fluid as an example, the cold flow channel of the valve is closed, and the fluid realizes the flow as shown in fig. 2 through the two-way valve rod 7 and the communication rod 15. When the temperature of the input fluid is the rated temperature, the limiting slide block 13 is positioned at the center of the slide rail 12. When the fluid temperature is higher than the rated temperature, the polymer actuator 14 contracts to drive the two-way valve rod 7 to rotate, and the flow of the heat flow channel is reduced. When the temperature reaches the high temperature threshold, the heat flow path is completely closed. If the flow of the low-temperature fluid is to be controlled, the hot flow channel is closed, and the cold flow channel is used as input.

Claims

1. A three-channel ball valve for automatically controlling temperature based on a polymer actuator is characterized by comprising a three-channel ball valve body (1), a fixing rod (4) fixed on the three-channel ball valve body (1), a V-shaped ball body (5) positioned in the three-channel ball valve body (1), a valve seat connecting piece (16) used for realizing the sealing connection of a channel and the V-shaped ball body (5), a two-way valve rod (7), a communication rod (15) and a control chamber; one end of the V-shaped sphere (5) is movably connected with the fixed rod (4), and the other end is fixedly connected with the two-way valve rod (7); the control chamber comprises a control chamber box cover (8) fixedly connected with one end of a communicating rod (15) and one end of a two-way valve rod (7), a grooved wheel (9) fixed at the bottom end of the two-way valve rod (7), a control chamber box body (10), a steel wire rope (11) wound on the grooved wheel (9), a sliding rail (12) fixed on the side wall of the control chamber box body (10), a limiting sliding block (13) arranged on the sliding rail (12), a polymer actuator (14) located right below the communicating rod (15) and a reset spring (17); the reset spring (17), the steel wire rope (11), the limiting slide block (13) and the polymer actuator (14) are sequentially connected, and the other ends of the reset spring (17) and the polymer actuator (14) are respectively and fixedly connected with the control room box body (10); an output channel serving as a fluid outlet in the three-channel ball valve body (1) is of a tapered structure which gradually becomes smaller, the other end of the communication rod (15) is fixed on the side edge of the output channel, and the three-channel ball valve body (1) is communicated with the control chamber through the communication rod (15) and the two-way valve rod (7).

2. The three-channel ball valve for automatic temperature control based on polymer actuator as claimed in claim 1, wherein when the position-limiting slider (13) is located at the right side of the slide rail, the V-shaped ball (5) reduces the flow of the heat flow channel; when the limiting slide block (13) is positioned on the left side of the sliding rail, the V-shaped ball body (5) reduces the flow of the cold flow channel.

3. The three-channel ball valve for automatic temperature control based on polymer actuator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the two-way valve rod (7) is connected with the V-shaped ball (5) and the grooved wheel (9) through key slots respectively.

4. The three-way ball valve for automatic temperature control based on a polymer actuator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the polymer actuator (14) is a helical actuator formed by twisting and coiling polymer fibers.

5. The three-channel ball valve for automatic temperature control based on a polymer actuator according to claim 4, wherein the polymer fiber comprises nylon, polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, carbon nanotubes.

6. The three-channel ball valve for automatic temperature control based on polymer actuator as claimed in claim 4, wherein the channel of the three-channel ball valve body (1) as the fluid outlet is a conical structure, the ratio of the major diameter and the minor diameter of the conical structure is d, and 1.4< d < 3.